Wednesday night our church hosted our annual “Trunk or Treat” event. Through the early evening, we had a couple of hundred children and their parents come through our parking lot in costume excited about getting candy. I love seeing the girls and boys delight with the treats they receive.

I’ve been asked why we do this. The desire is two-fold. First, we want to show the love of Jesus, and reach out into our community. And then we want to offer a safe place for the children to do what I did on the streets some 50 years ago.

Safe place. There was a time that churches were safe places. Even thieves refrained from breaking and entering into houses of worship.

But once again, last weekend a place where people were gathered for worship became a place of horror. I cannot imagine what was going through the mind of those who were present Saturday morning in Pittsburgh. And I wonder at the hatred that leads to such violence.

A country was built on Judeo-Christian principles. The fi st and most important commandment that God ever gave, in both the Old and New Testaments, was to love him. And the second was to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. 

To say that we live in a time where that is not the case would be an understatement. In less than a week, we will have our midterm elections. To hear those on either side it would seem that the sky is going to fall if the other side wins. And both sides are willing to go to whatever extremes necessary to win.

Christians ought to refrain from such wild accusations. I have an opinion on what is best for our country, state, and local area. I think the candidates for whom I voted early have the better answers for the good of us all.

But I know this for sure. Political solutions will not suffice or the troubles in our land. Neither political party is fully aligned with God’s will. Only he can help us.

I pray we will see that and will call on him for the help only he can give. And in the meantime, let’s be kind to one another.